Process for the manufacture of high-bulk yarn

ABSTRACT

A high-bulk yarn having interlaced filaments substantially free from loops, and preferably having spherical knops affecting the yarn as a whole, is made by subjecting a continuous filament (or less preferably a staple fiber) yarn to the action of a turbulent fluid in a suitable nozzle, into which the yarn is fed nonaxially so that it rubs against one wall thereof. If desired more than one yarn can be employed, making a single composite yarn. The invention includes also a nozzle, preferably having its yarn input opening flared to provide for the necessary friction of the yarn against the side of the nozzle.

United States Patent Buzano [451 July 25, 1972 1541 PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE 3,105,349 10/1963 Palm et al ..57/34 E OF HIGH-BULK YARN 3,113,413 12/1963 Jacobs et a1.

3,127,729 4 1964 Head [72] Inventor: Michel Buzano, Villeurbanne, France 3,253 396 SL966 Fish Sr [73] Assignee: Societe Rhodiaceta, Paris, France 314571715 7/ 1969 Eldridge a1 3,462,813 8/1969 Dyer ..28/72 12 [22] Filed: March 17, 1969 [2 U Appl No: 807,540 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 861,327 2/1961 Great Britain ..28/72.l2 [30] Foreign Applicatlon Priority Data Primary Examiner john Fawkes March 18, 1969 France ..69144240 Attvrney-Cushman, Darby & Cushman [52] US. Cl ..28/72.l2, 28/1.4, 57/157 F [57] ABSTRACT [S 1] Int. Cl ..D02g 1/16 [58 1 Field of Search ..57 34 B, 157 F; 28/1 .4, 72.12 A hav'ng F substamally l from loops, and preferably having spherlcal knops affecting 5 the yarn as a whole, is made by subjecting a continuous fila- 6] References cued ment (or less preferably a staple fiber) yarn to the action of a UNITED STATES PATENTS turbulent fluid in a suitable nozzle, into which the yarn is fed non-axially so that it rubs against one wall thereof, If desired Benson X more than one yarn can be e 'nplqyed making a ingle com. 2,852,906 9/1958 Breen..... ...28/ 1.4 X posite yarn. The invention includes also a nozzle, preferably 21942302 6/1960 l") B having its yarn input opening flared to provide for the necessa- I 3,007,298 1 H1961 W1ll1ams et al... .....s7/ B ry friction of the yarn against the side ofthe nozzle. 3,013,379 12/1961 Breen ...28/72.l2 X 3,053,038 9/1962 Weiss et al ..57/157 F 11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HIGH-BULK YARN This invention relates to a novel high-bulk yarn, and to a method and device for making it.

Some yarns are rendered bulky by separating, or putting in a dishevelled or tousled" state, the filaments of which they consist. This can be done by mechanical means, but preferably pneumatic means are used which make it possible to open and separate the filaments and even to impart a certain number of convolutions to them, so binding them in a yarn. For this purpose, s substantially untwisted bundle of continuous filaments is introduced into a zone in which they are acted on by a turbulent fluid. Thus it has been proposed to cause the filament bundle to travel in two conduits which are ofiset relatively to each other, and subject it to action of the jet of fluid during its travel in the second conduit.

This type of process produces a high-bulk yarn, but does not give a fancy effect such as that found on the knop yarns produced by conventional mechanical means.

The present invention provides a novel high-bulk yarn the filaments of which are interlaced in such manner as to be substantially free from loops and other visible convolutions, and which may if desired comprise neps of substantially spherical shape, affecting the filaments as a whole.

The invention may be applied to yarns of any natural, artificial or synthetic material, preferably comprising, wholly or partially, continuous filaments.

According to the invention the high-bulk yarn is made by a process in which at least one yarn is caused to travel through the fluid turbulence chamber of a nozzle from which it is freely drawn away in the same direction as the fluid, and into which it is fed non-axially so that it rubs at least slightly on the wall of the nozzle.

It is found that a slight degree of friction of the yarn at the inlet of the nozzle or jet makes it possible to eliminate the undesired effects produced by small quantities of fluid which may, despite all efforts so the contrary, succeed in escaping upstream.

The desired friction effect can be obtained by introducing the yarn, or at least one of the yarns if more than one is used, into the turbulence chamber at an angle substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the travel path of the yarn in the chamber.

When two or more yarns are fed into the turbulence chamber, they may be fed continuously or intermittently at identical or different velocities and at identical or different angles, no correlation being imposed a priori between the withdrawal velocities and the angles of introduction of the yarns into the nozzle.

The yarn obtained may be withdrawn out of the nozzle either continuously or intermittently, but generally the latter afiords no advantage.

The yarn or yarns may be introduced into the nozzle in the tensioned state or while they are substantially free from tension.

If desired the yarn may simultaneously be subjected to thermal treatment, notably in the case of yarn whose bulk can be increased by such treatment.

Generally, continuous filament yarns are ulilized, but it is possible to feed, into the turbulence chamber, simultaneously with at least one yarn consisting of continuous filaments, at least one spun (staple fiber) yarn. Indeed it is even possible to feed into the turbulence chamber on or more spun yarns only.

The process may be carried into effect with the aid of noule or jet which also forms a part of the invention, and which comprises a cylindrical conduit for the yarn having an upstream portion of reduced section and a downstream portion of larger section, without a connecting zone, and a fluid feed conduit debouching into the yarn conduit and forming an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the nozzle.

Advantageously, the fluid feed conduit debouches into the upstream portion of the axil conduit of larger cross-section, making a small angle with the longitudinal axis of the nozzle so that the fluid is fed substantially in the same direction as the yarn.

According to a preferred form of the invention, the conduit of larger cross section terminates downstream in a substantially cylindrical portion of smaller diameter.

The device for the performance of the invention comprises in addition means for feeding, guiding and withdrawing the Y The means for the feed or delivery and withdrawal of the yarn may if desired be actuated intermittently, for example by means of a device for varying the travel path of the yarn.

The invention will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a nozzle, and

FIGS. 2 to 4 show various appropriate assemblies of nozzle and feed, withdrawal and guide means.

Referring to the drawings, the noule or jet 1 is constituted by a body 2 having an axial passage for the yarn or yarns, formed by a slightly flared input aperture 3 and a narrow axial conduit 4 debouching into a widened portion 5 into which the fluid flows via conduit 6, and terminating in a short discharge section 7 of somewhat small diameter.

In the following examples there was used a nozzle of overall height 58.5 mm, the length of the narrow section 4 being 34 mm. and that of the wider section 5 being l9 mm., the corresponding diameters being 2 and 5 mm. respectively.

The discharge portion 7 has a length of 5.5 mm. and an internal diameter of 3.8 mm. The conduit 6 has a diameter of 2 mm. and a length of 12 mm. and makes an angle of 25 with the longitudinal axis of the nozzle.

The nozzle is mounted in a device comprising, upstream (see FIG. 2), feed or delivery means constituted by two creels 8 and 9 carrying bobbins 10 and 11, pairs of feed or delivery rollers 12 and 13, 14 and 15 and guide means such as guides 16 and 17, all arranged to feed the yarns to the nozzle in such a way as to cause them to rub against the flared portion 3; downstream there is a conventional winding-up means, shown I as a system comprising a spindle 18, ring 19 and traveller 20.

In the variant of FIG. 3, the device further comprises means for intermittent withdrawal disposed between the nozzle 1 and the winding-up system. While any such means can be used, there is illustrated a system comprising a fixed plate 21 against which bears, intermittently, a moving plate 22 carried by an arm 23 mounted for movement on a fixed pivot 23 and provided at its other end with a counterweight 25 bearing on a plate 26 to which upward movement is imparted by pulses supplied by an electromagnet 27 which is intermittently excited by means of a microswitch 28 controlled by a variableprofile cam 29 through an arm 30 arranged to be mobile about a pivot 31 and adapted to make contact with a contact 32.

Of course, a device of this kind could be replaced by any other analogous system, for example a tie rod and crank device controlled by a variable-speed motor.

In a further variant, illustrated in FIG. 4, the intermediate withdrawal system is replaced by a relaxation deice constituted simply by a set of rollers 33 and 34 disposed between the nozzle 1 and the winding-up device.

EXAMPLE 1 Using the device shown in FIG. 2, i.e., without intermittent withdrawal of the yarn, two polyhexamethylene adipamide 70 denier/23 filament yarns are fed to the nozzle simultaneously, one at a velocity of 27 m/min. and the other at a velocity of 72 m/min., the nozzle being fed with air under a pressure of 4 kglcm The yarn obtained exhibits irregularly spaced loops affording an extremely small amount of sliding action EXAMPLE 2 Using the device shown in FIG. 3 and employing intermittent withdrawal, there are fed simultaneously, at the same velocity of 60 m/min., a polyhexamethylene adipamide 70 denier/23 ply yarn and a cellulose acetate 150 denier/36 ply effect yarn, the nozzle being fed with air under a pressure of 4 kg/cm".

The number of short pulses imparted to the yarn is between 12 and 15 per minute, the speed of rotation of the winding-up spindle being 5,200 rpm.

A high-bulk, crinkly, knop yarn is obtained, the number of knops being directly connected with the number of pulses.

EXAMPLE 3 With the device illustrated in FIG. 4, there are fed into the nozzle 1, simultaneously and at the same velocity of 80 m/min., a polyethylene terephthalate l30 denier/44 ply yarn and a polyhexamethylene adipamide 70 denier/33 ply yarn; the yarn produced is withdrawn at a velocity of 56 m/min., giving a degree of relaxation of 30 percent.

In this way there is obtained a knop yarn having randomly disposed spherical loops.

We claim:

1. A process for the manufacture of a high-bulk yarn, which comprises passing at least one yarn through three successive co-axial cylindrical zones in a nozzle, the middle zone being of greater diameter than either of the other two, the yarn being fed into the first zone non-axially so that as it enters the nozzle it rubs at least lightly on the wall thereof, being subjected in the middle zone to the action of a turbulent fluid which is introduced into the said zone in the form of a stream passing through a conduit at an acute angle to the direction of travel of the yarn through the said zone, an being withdrawn freely from the third zone in the same direction as the fluid leaving the nozzle.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the stream of fluid is introduced into the middle zone at an angle of about 25 to the direction of travel of yarn through the said zone.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the input aperture of the first zone is slightly flared.

4. A process according to claim 1, wherein the third zone is shorter than the first 5. Process according to claim 1, wherein at least one yarn is fed into first zone in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of passage of the yarn in the nozzle.

6. Process according to claim 1, wherein at least two yarns are fed simultaneously into the first zone at different velocities.

7. Process according to claim 1, wherein at least tow yarns are fed simultaneously into the first nozzle at the same velocity.

8. Process according to claim 1, wherein the high-bulk yarn obtained is withdrawn from the third zone intermittently.

9. Process according to claim 1, wherein the high-bulk yarn obtained is fed to the first zone and withdrawn from the third zone at the same velocity and in uniform manner.

10. Process according to claim 1, wherein the high-bulk yarn is withdrawn from the third zone at a velocity below the average velocity at which it is fed to the first zone.

11. Process according to claim 1, wherein at least one continuous filament yarn is treated.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 7 549 Dated September 6.1972

InV M1 rhp'l R1172nn It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters 'Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Phase correct the foreign application priority data to read ---March 16, 1966 France 1 M2 LO" Signed and sealed this 6th day of March 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) uscoMM-Dc 60376-P69 a U.S. GOVERNMENT FRINYING OFFICE21969 0--366-33 

1. A process for the manufacture of a high-bulk yarn, which comprises passing at least one yarn through three successive coaxial cylindrical zones in a nozzle, the middle zone being of greater diameter than either of the other two, the yarn being fed into the first zone non-axially so that as it enters the nozzle it rubs at least lightly on the wall thereof, being subjected in the middle zone to the action of a turbulent fluid which is introduced into the said zone in the form of a stream passing through a conduit at an acute angle to the direction of travel of the yarn through the said zone, an being withdrawn freely from the third zone in the same direction as the fluid leaving the nozzle.
 2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the stream of fluid is introduced into the middle zone at an angle of about 25* to the direction of travel of yarn through the said zone.
 3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the input aperture of the first zone is slightly flared.
 4. A process according to claim 1, wherein the third zone is shorter than the first
 5. Process according to claim 1, wherein at least one yarn is fed into first zone in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of passage of the yarn in the nozzle.
 6. Process according to claim 1, wherein at least two yarns are fed simultaneously into the first zone at different velocities.
 7. Process according to claim 1, wherein at least tow yarns are fed simultaneously into the first nozzle at the same velocity.
 8. Process according to claim 1, wherein the high-bulk yarn obtained is withdrawn from the Third zone intermittently.
 9. Process according to claim 1, wherein the high-bulk yarn obtained is fed to the first zone and withdrawn from the third zone at the same velocity and in uniform manner.
 10. Process according to claim 1, wherein the high-bulk yarn is withdrawn from the third zone at a velocity below the average velocity at which it is fed to the first zone.
 11. Process according to claim 1, wherein at least one continuous filament yarn is treated. 